From sale to suit

Legal documents and statements from officials tell the story from the land transfer to the lawsuit.

The Kitsap Rifle and Revolver Club off Seabeck Highway has been closed to shooting since a Feb. 9 court order.

Commissioner Josh Brown: "All the way along for the county, our sole interest was being able to complete the Newberry Hill Heritage Park acquisition."

Marcus Carter, club executive: "They didn't want the property with the lead on it and they weren't interested in owning a gun club,"

Steve Mount, the county's code enforcement officer, communicated with county officials — including Commissioner Josh Brown — about code and land-use violations before the land transfer was finalized.

The rifle range of the Kitsap Rifle and Revolver Club in this September 18, 2010 file photo.

Larry D. Cote, a retired county parks and recreation employee, urged commissioners in 2009 to investigate land-use concerns with the gun club before selling it the land.

Terry Allison, who owns property neighboring the club, filed repeated complaints with county code enforcement about what he believed was illegal land use at the range starting in 2005.

Prosecutor Russ Hauge: "My office's direction by our client, the county commissioners, was to close the deal however the deal had to be closed to get the parkland DNR had. The rifle club issues were always a side show."

Commissioner Charlotte Garrido: "A lot of what we were hearing was assurances that (gun club members) were good stewards up to that time and they would continue to be."

Bullet casings litter the ground of shooting bay no. 6 of the Kitsap Rifle and Revolver Club in this September 18, 2010 file photo.

At a March 23, 2009, meeting with county commissioners, DCD Director Larry Keeton told the board before the land swap went through he wanted a county inspection of the gun club property. County commissioners never followed up on Keeton's request.

A three-page Bargain and Sale Deed placed restrictions on the club's expansions.

Doug McClelland, DNR assistant regional manager: "As we sold the property the county took on the lease and it was up to them to determine if the site was in compliance."

County officials in 2010 began looking at aerial photos taken of the club over nearly three decades to observe expansion beyond its historic footprint.

Kitsap County prosecutors filed a lawsuit in Pierce County Superior Court against the Kitsap Rifle and Revolver Club alleging safety concerns and violations of land-use codes in September 2010.

Supporters of the Kitsap Rifle and Revolver Club showed their support at a county commissioners meeting after the prosecutor's office filed a lawsuit against the club in September 2010.

Japanese exchange student Izumi Yamashita holds her target for a souvenir at the Kitsap Rifle and Revolver Club in this file photo from 2011. Shooting is now prohibited at the range under a Pierce County Superior Court order.

Khem Butcher holds bullet casings in his hand after shooting on the rifle range of the Kitsap Rifle and Revolver Club on September 18, 2010.

Marcus Carter in the pistol range at the Kitsap Rifle and Revolver Club in this September 18, 2010 file photo.

Japanese exchange student Yoshi Yosaka,16, learns how to fire Marcus Carter's Glock 9 mm pistol at the Kitsap Rifle and Revolver Club in this file photo from 2011. Instructing him is club executive officer Carter. Club officials have appealed a February superior court ruling that temporarily closed the range to shooting to the Washington State Court of Appeals.

A No Trespassing sign hangs on the fence looking into the property of the Kitsap Rifle and Revolver Club in this file photo from September 18, 2010. The fence was installed to keep people from wandering into the range.

Khem Butcher uses a staple gun to attach his target at the rifle range at Kitsap Rifle and Revolver Club in this September 18, 2010 file photo. Club members have been unable to shoot at the range since a Feb. 9 court decision declared the facility a public nuisance.

Japanese exchange student Yoshi Yosaka,16, shoots a 22 caliber long rifle at the Kitsap Rifle and Revolver Club in this file photo from 2011. Helping him is Lions Club Representative Bob Battin. The range was shut down to shooting in February after a Pierce County Superior Court judge declared it a public nuisance.

Shooters attach their targets on the rifle range of the Kitsap Rifle and Revolver Club in this file photo from September 18, 2010. There is no shooting at the range currently while club leaders wait to see if an appeals court commissioner will overturn a court ruling that shut down the range.

Kitsap Rifle and revolver Club executive officer Marcus Carter sets up a target on the pistol range in this file photo from 2011. Shooting at the range was shut down after a Feb. 9 ruling by a Pierce County judge that declared the site a public nuisance.

Harry Birkenfeld, of Illahee, loads his magazine as gets ready to shoot on the rifle range of the Kitsap Rifle and Revolver Club in this September 18, 2010 file photo. No shooting is currently allowed at the range while club leadership waits to hear if an state appeals court commissioner will overturn a court ruling that closed the club.

After Pierce County Superior Court Judge Susan Serko ruled Feb. 9 the Kitsap Rifle and Revolver Club had to temporarily shut down its range until it received the necessary permits to operate club leaders posted this sign proclaiming the closure.